[1] In 1898 he bought Sketty Hall, Swansea, installed his art collections there and began improving the house and its grounds.
In 1905, visiting Brighton, he was moved by the preaching of James Philips, pastor of the Union Street Mission.
[2] He also established near Swansea the Glynn Vivian Rest Home for the Blind, at Caswell Bay in Gower.
In 1905 he offered his collection of paintings, drawings and china to Swansea Corporation, who with his endowment built the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery to house it.
Vivian laid the foundation stone on 14 May 1909, but he died at his London home on 7 June 1910, just over a year before the gallery was opened by his brother, Graham.