diff --git a/changelog.d/10798.misc b/changelog.d/10798.misc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..586a0b3a9670
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/10798.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Use direct references to config flags.
diff --git a/synapse/api/urls.py b/synapse/api/urls.py
index 4b1f213c75f8..d3270cd6d269 100644
--- a/synapse/api/urls.py
+++ b/synapse/api/urls.py
@@ -41,11 +41,11 @@ def __init__(self, hs_config):
         """
         if hs_config.form_secret is None:
             raise ConfigError("form_secret not set in config")
-        if hs_config.public_baseurl is None:
+        if hs_config.server.public_baseurl is None:
             raise ConfigError("public_baseurl not set in config")
 
         self._hmac_secret = hs_config.form_secret.encode("utf-8")
-        self._public_baseurl = hs_config.public_baseurl
+        self._public_baseurl = hs_config.server.public_baseurl
 
     def build_user_consent_uri(self, user_id):
         """Build a URI which we can give to the user to do their privacy
diff --git a/synapse/app/_base.py b/synapse/app/_base.py
index 89bda000909d..d1aa2e7fb5f9 100644
--- a/synapse/app/_base.py
+++ b/synapse/app/_base.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def start_worker_reactor(appname, config, run_command=reactor.run):
         run_command (Callable[]): callable that actually runs the reactor
     """
 
-    logger = logging.getLogger(config.worker_app)
+    logger = logging.getLogger(config.worker.worker_app)
 
     start_reactor(
         appname,
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ def run_sighup(*args, **kwargs):
 
     # If background tasks are running on the main process, start collecting the
     # phone home stats.
-    if hs.config.run_background_tasks:
+    if hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks:
         start_phone_stats_home(hs)
 
     # We now freeze all allocated objects in the hopes that (almost)
@@ -433,9 +433,13 @@ def setup_sentry(hs):
 
     # We set some default tags that give some context to this instance
     with sentry_sdk.configure_scope() as scope:
-        scope.set_tag("matrix_server_name", hs.config.server_name)
+        scope.set_tag("matrix_server_name", hs.config.server.server_name)
 
-        app = hs.config.worker_app if hs.config.worker_app else "synapse.app.homeserver"
+        app = (
+            hs.config.worker.worker_app
+            if hs.config.worker.worker_app
+            else "synapse.app.homeserver"
+        )
         name = hs.get_instance_name()
         scope.set_tag("worker_app", app)
         scope.set_tag("worker_name", name)
diff --git a/synapse/app/admin_cmd.py b/synapse/app/admin_cmd.py
index 7396db93c62f..5e956b1e27b7 100644
--- a/synapse/app/admin_cmd.py
+++ b/synapse/app/admin_cmd.py
@@ -178,12 +178,12 @@ def start(config_options):
         sys.stderr.write("\n" + str(e) + "\n")
         sys.exit(1)
 
-    if config.worker_app is not None:
-        assert config.worker_app == "synapse.app.admin_cmd"
+    if config.worker.worker_app is not None:
+        assert config.worker.worker_app == "synapse.app.admin_cmd"
 
     # Update the config with some basic overrides so that don't have to specify
     # a full worker config.
-    config.worker_app = "synapse.app.admin_cmd"
+    config.worker.worker_app = "synapse.app.admin_cmd"
 
     if (
         not config.worker_daemonize
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     # Explicitly disable background processes
     config.update_user_directory = False
-    config.run_background_tasks = False
+    config.worker.run_background_tasks = False
     config.start_pushers = False
     config.pusher_shard_config.instances = []
     config.send_federation = False
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ def start(config_options):
     synapse.events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
     ss = AdminCmdServer(
-        config.server_name,
+        config.server.server_name,
         config=config,
         version_string="Synapse/" + get_version_string(synapse),
     )
diff --git a/synapse/app/generic_worker.py b/synapse/app/generic_worker.py
index 7d2cd6a90497..33afd59c726d 100644
--- a/synapse/app/generic_worker.py
+++ b/synapse/app/generic_worker.py
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ def start(config_options):
         sys.exit(1)
 
     # For backwards compatibility let any of the old app names.
-    assert config.worker_app in (
+    assert config.worker.worker_app in (
         "synapse.app.appservice",
         "synapse.app.client_reader",
         "synapse.app.event_creator",
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ def start(config_options):
         "synapse.app.user_dir",
     )
 
-    if config.worker_app == "synapse.app.appservice":
+    if config.worker.worker_app == "synapse.app.appservice":
         if config.appservice.notify_appservices:
             sys.stderr.write(
                 "\nThe appservices must be disabled in the main synapse process"
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ def start(config_options):
         # For other worker types we force this to off.
         config.appservice.notify_appservices = False
 
-    if config.worker_app == "synapse.app.user_dir":
+    if config.worker.worker_app == "synapse.app.user_dir":
         if config.server.update_user_directory:
             sys.stderr.write(
                 "\nThe update_user_directory must be disabled in the main synapse process"
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ def start(config_options):
         synapse.metrics.MIN_TIME_BETWEEN_GCS = config.server.gc_seconds
 
     hs = GenericWorkerServer(
-        config.server_name,
+        config.server.server_name,
         config=config,
         version_string="Synapse/" + get_version_string(synapse),
     )
diff --git a/synapse/app/homeserver.py b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
index 708db86f5d81..b909f8db8d72 100644
--- a/synapse/app/homeserver.py
+++ b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ def setup(config_options):
         synapse.metrics.MIN_TIME_BETWEEN_GCS = config.server.gc_seconds
 
     hs = SynapseHomeServer(
-        config.server_name,
+        config.server.server_name,
         config=config,
         version_string="Synapse/" + get_version_string(synapse),
     )
diff --git a/synapse/app/phone_stats_home.py b/synapse/app/phone_stats_home.py
index 86ad7337a995..4a95da90f9bb 100644
--- a/synapse/app/phone_stats_home.py
+++ b/synapse/app/phone_stats_home.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ async def phone_stats_home(hs, stats, stats_process=_stats_process):
 
     store = hs.get_datastore()
 
-    stats["homeserver"] = hs.config.server_name
+    stats["homeserver"] = hs.config.server.server_name
     stats["server_context"] = hs.config.server_context
     stats["timestamp"] = now
     stats["uptime_seconds"] = uptime
diff --git a/synapse/config/logger.py b/synapse/config/logger.py
index 4a398a7932cc..aca9d467e6ee 100644
--- a/synapse/config/logger.py
+++ b/synapse/config/logger.py
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ def _setup_stdlib_logging(config, log_config_path, logBeginner: LogBeginner) ->
     # writes.
 
     log_context_filter = LoggingContextFilter()
-    log_metadata_filter = MetadataFilter({"server_name": config.server_name})
+    log_metadata_filter = MetadataFilter({"server_name": config.server.server_name})
     old_factory = logging.getLogRecordFactory()
 
     def factory(*args, **kwargs):
@@ -335,5 +335,5 @@ def setup_logging(
     # Log immediately so we can grep backwards.
     logging.warning("***** STARTING SERVER *****")
     logging.warning("Server %s version %s", sys.argv[0], get_version_string(synapse))
-    logging.info("Server hostname: %s", config.server_name)
+    logging.info("Server hostname: %s", config.server.server_name)
     logging.info("Instance name: %s", hs.get_instance_name())
diff --git a/synapse/events/validator.py b/synapse/events/validator.py
index 33954b4f6217..6eb6544c4c4c 100644
--- a/synapse/events/validator.py
+++ b/synapse/events/validator.py
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ def validate_new(self, event: EventBase, config: HomeServerConfig):
             self._validate_retention(event)
 
         if event.type == EventTypes.ServerACL:
-            if not server_matches_acl_event(config.server_name, event):
+            if not server_matches_acl_event(config.server.server_name, event):
                 raise SynapseError(
                     400, "Can't create an ACL event that denies the local server"
                 )
diff --git a/synapse/federation/sender/__init__.py b/synapse/federation/sender/__init__.py
index 4c0a3eb5af64..4671ac024211 100644
--- a/synapse/federation/sender/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/federation/sender/__init__.py
@@ -281,7 +281,8 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self._queues_awaiting_rr_flush_by_room: Dict[str, Set[PerDestinationQueue]] = {}
 
         self._rr_txn_interval_per_room_ms = (
-            1000.0 / hs.config.federation_rr_transactions_per_room_per_second
+            1000.0
+            / hs.config.ratelimiting.federation_rr_transactions_per_room_per_second
         )
 
         # wake up destinations that have outstanding PDUs to be caught up
diff --git a/synapse/groups/attestations.py b/synapse/groups/attestations.py
index ff8372c4e9ad..53f99031b1de 100644
--- a/synapse/groups/attestations.py
+++ b/synapse/groups/attestations.py
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self.is_mine_id = hs.is_mine_id
         self.attestations = hs.get_groups_attestation_signing()
 
-        if not hs.config.worker_app:
+        if not hs.config.worker.worker_app:
             self._renew_attestations_loop = self.clock.looping_call(
                 self._start_renew_attestations, 30 * 60 * 1000
             )
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/_base.py b/synapse/handlers/_base.py
index 955cfa220724..c23ccd6dd913 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/_base.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/_base.py
@@ -45,16 +45,16 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self.request_ratelimiter = Ratelimiter(
             store=self.store, clock=self.clock, rate_hz=0, burst_count=0
         )
-        self._rc_message = self.hs.config.rc_message
+        self._rc_message = self.hs.config.ratelimiting.rc_message
 
         # Check whether ratelimiting room admin message redaction is enabled
         # by the presence of rate limits in the config
-        if self.hs.config.rc_admin_redaction:
+        if self.hs.config.ratelimiting.rc_admin_redaction:
             self.admin_redaction_ratelimiter: Optional[Ratelimiter] = Ratelimiter(
                 store=self.store,
                 clock=self.clock,
-                rate_hz=self.hs.config.rc_admin_redaction.per_second,
-                burst_count=self.hs.config.rc_admin_redaction.burst_count,
+                rate_hz=self.hs.config.ratelimiting.rc_admin_redaction.per_second,
+                burst_count=self.hs.config.ratelimiting.rc_admin_redaction.burst_count,
             )
         else:
             self.admin_redaction_ratelimiter = None
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/account_validity.py b/synapse/handlers/account_validity.py
index dd6975505317..a9c2222f46c9 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/account_validity.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/account_validity.py
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
             )
 
             # Check the renewal emails to send and send them every 30min.
-            if hs.config.run_background_tasks:
+            if hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks:
                 self.clock.looping_call(self._send_renewal_emails, 30 * 60 * 1000)
 
         self._is_user_expired_callbacks: List[IS_USER_EXPIRED_CALLBACK] = []
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ async def _send_renewal_email(self, user_id: str, expiration_ts: int) -> None:
 
         renewal_token = await self._get_renewal_token(user_id)
         url = "%s_matrix/client/unstable/account_validity/renew?token=%s" % (
-            self.hs.config.public_baseurl,
+            self.hs.config.server.public_baseurl,
             renewal_token,
         )
 
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/auth.py b/synapse/handlers/auth.py
index 34725324a652..fbbf6fd834c4 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/auth.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/auth.py
@@ -244,8 +244,8 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self._failed_uia_attempts_ratelimiter = Ratelimiter(
             store=self.store,
             clock=self.clock,
-            rate_hz=self.hs.config.rc_login_failed_attempts.per_second,
-            burst_count=self.hs.config.rc_login_failed_attempts.burst_count,
+            rate_hz=self.hs.config.ratelimiting.rc_login_failed_attempts.per_second,
+            burst_count=self.hs.config.ratelimiting.rc_login_failed_attempts.burst_count,
         )
 
         # The number of seconds to keep a UI auth session active.
@@ -255,14 +255,14 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self._failed_login_attempts_ratelimiter = Ratelimiter(
             store=self.store,
             clock=hs.get_clock(),
-            rate_hz=self.hs.config.rc_login_failed_attempts.per_second,
-            burst_count=self.hs.config.rc_login_failed_attempts.burst_count,
+            rate_hz=self.hs.config.ratelimiting.rc_login_failed_attempts.per_second,
+            burst_count=self.hs.config.ratelimiting.rc_login_failed_attempts.burst_count,
         )
 
         self._clock = self.hs.get_clock()
 
         # Expire old UI auth sessions after a period of time.
-        if hs.config.run_background_tasks:
+        if hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks:
             self._clock.looping_call(
                 run_as_background_process,
                 5 * 60 * 1000,
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
             hs.config.sso_account_deactivated_template
         )
 
-        self._server_name = hs.config.server_name
+        self._server_name = hs.config.server.server_name
 
         # cast to tuple for use with str.startswith
         self._whitelisted_sso_clients = tuple(hs.config.sso_client_whitelist)
@@ -749,7 +749,7 @@ def _get_params_terms(self) -> dict:
                         "name": self.hs.config.user_consent_policy_name,
                         "url": "%s_matrix/consent?v=%s"
                         % (
-                            self.hs.config.public_baseurl,
+                            self.hs.config.server.public_baseurl,
                             self.hs.config.user_consent_version,
                         ),
                     },
@@ -1799,7 +1799,7 @@ def generate_delete_pusher_token(self, user_id: str) -> str:
 
     def _generate_base_macaroon(self, user_id: str) -> pymacaroons.Macaroon:
         macaroon = pymacaroons.Macaroon(
-            location=self.hs.config.server_name,
+            location=self.hs.config.server.server_name,
             identifier="key",
             key=self.hs.config.macaroon_secret_key,
         )
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/deactivate_account.py b/synapse/handlers/deactivate_account.py
index ab22d763595f..dcd320c55523 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/deactivate_account.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/deactivate_account.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
 
         # Start the user parter loop so it can resume parting users from rooms where
         # it left off (if it has work left to do).
-        if hs.config.run_background_tasks:
+        if hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks:
             hs.get_reactor().callWhenRunning(self._start_user_parting)
 
         self._account_validity_enabled = (
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/devicemessage.py b/synapse/handlers/devicemessage.py
index 679b47f0815f..b6a2a34ab7fa 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/devicemessage.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/devicemessage.py
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self._ratelimiter = Ratelimiter(
             store=self.store,
             clock=hs.get_clock(),
-            rate_hz=hs.config.rc_key_requests.per_second,
-            burst_count=hs.config.rc_key_requests.burst_count,
+            rate_hz=hs.config.ratelimiting.rc_key_requests.per_second,
+            burst_count=hs.config.ratelimiting.rc_key_requests.burst_count,
         )
 
     async def on_direct_to_device_edu(self, origin: str, content: JsonDict) -> None:
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/e2e_keys.py b/synapse/handlers/e2e_keys.py
index d92370859fb6..08a137561f88 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/e2e_keys.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/e2e_keys.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
 
         federation_registry = hs.get_federation_registry()
 
-        self._is_master = hs.config.worker_app is None
+        self._is_master = hs.config.worker.worker_app is None
         if not self._is_master:
             self._user_device_resync_client = (
                 ReplicationUserDevicesResyncRestServlet.make_client(hs)
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/federation.py b/synapse/handlers/federation.py
index 77df9185f6a2..6754c64c31ed 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/federation.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/federation.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
             hs
         )
 
-        if hs.config.worker_app:
+        if hs.config.worker.worker_app:
             self._maybe_store_room_on_outlier_membership = (
                 ReplicationStoreRoomOnOutlierMembershipRestServlet.make_client(hs)
             )
@@ -1614,7 +1614,7 @@ async def _clean_room_for_join(self, room_id: str) -> None:
         Args:
             room_id
         """
-        if self.config.worker_app:
+        if self.config.worker.worker_app:
             await self._clean_room_for_join_client(room_id)
         else:
             await self.store.clean_room_for_join(room_id)
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/federation_event.py b/synapse/handlers/federation_event.py
index 9ec90ac8c101..946343fa259e 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/federation_event.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/federation_event.py
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self._ephemeral_messages_enabled = hs.config.server.enable_ephemeral_messages
 
         self._send_events = ReplicationFederationSendEventsRestServlet.make_client(hs)
-        if hs.config.worker_app:
+        if hs.config.worker.worker_app:
             self._user_device_resync = (
                 ReplicationUserDevicesResyncRestServlet.make_client(hs)
             )
@@ -1009,7 +1009,7 @@ async def _resync_device(self, sender: str) -> None:
             await self._store.mark_remote_user_device_cache_as_stale(sender)
 
             # Immediately attempt a resync in the background
-            if self._config.worker_app:
+            if self._config.worker.worker_app:
                 await self._user_device_resync(user_id=sender)
             else:
                 await self._device_list_updater.user_device_resync(sender)
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/identity.py b/synapse/handlers/identity.py
index 8ffeabacf975..8b8f1f41ca3e 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/identity.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/identity.py
@@ -540,13 +540,13 @@ async def requestMsisdnToken(
 
         # It is already checked that public_baseurl is configured since this code
         # should only be used if account_threepid_delegate_msisdn is true.
-        assert self.hs.config.public_baseurl
+        assert self.hs.config.server.public_baseurl
 
         # we need to tell the client to send the token back to us, since it doesn't
         # otherwise know where to send it, so add submit_url response parameter
         # (see also MSC2078)
         data["submit_url"] = (
-            self.hs.config.public_baseurl
+            self.hs.config.server.public_baseurl
             + "_matrix/client/unstable/add_threepid/msisdn/submit_token"
         )
         return data
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/message.py b/synapse/handlers/message.py
index bf0fef15102f..10f1584a0056 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/message.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/message.py
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         # scheduled.
         self._scheduled_expiry: Optional[IDelayedCall] = None
 
-        if not hs.config.worker_app:
+        if not hs.config.worker.worker_app:
             run_as_background_process(
                 "_schedule_next_expiry", self._schedule_next_expiry
             )
@@ -461,7 +461,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self._dummy_events_threshold = hs.config.dummy_events_threshold
 
         if (
-            self.config.run_background_tasks
+            self.config.worker.run_background_tasks
             and self.config.cleanup_extremities_with_dummy_events
         ):
             self.clock.looping_call(
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/oidc.py b/synapse/handlers/oidc.py
index 648fcf76f83f..dfc251b2a518 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/oidc.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/oidc.py
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ def __init__(
         self._allow_existing_users = provider.allow_existing_users
 
         self._http_client = hs.get_proxied_http_client()
-        self._server_name: str = hs.config.server_name
+        self._server_name: str = hs.config.server.server_name
 
         # identifier for the external_ids table
         self.idp_id = provider.idp_id
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/pagination.py b/synapse/handlers/pagination.py
index 1dbafd253d37..7dc0ee4bef1b 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/pagination.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/pagination.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self._retention_allowed_lifetime_min = hs.config.retention_allowed_lifetime_min
         self._retention_allowed_lifetime_max = hs.config.retention_allowed_lifetime_max
 
-        if hs.config.run_background_tasks and hs.config.retention_enabled:
+        if hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks and hs.config.retention_enabled:
             # Run the purge jobs described in the configuration file.
             for job in hs.config.retention_purge_jobs:
                 logger.info("Setting up purge job with config: %s", job)
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/profile.py b/synapse/handlers/profile.py
index 20a033d0ba5f..51adf8762d8d 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/profile.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/profile.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
 
         self.user_directory_handler = hs.get_user_directory_handler()
 
-        if hs.config.run_background_tasks:
+        if hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks:
             self.clock.looping_call(
                 self._update_remote_profile_cache, self.PROFILE_UPDATE_MS
             )
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/read_marker.py b/synapse/handlers/read_marker.py
index c679a8303ed4..bd8160e7ed43 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/read_marker.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/read_marker.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 class ReadMarkerHandler(BaseHandler):
     def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         super().__init__(hs)
-        self.server_name = hs.config.server_name
+        self.server_name = hs.config.server.server_name
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
         self.account_data_handler = hs.get_account_data_handler()
         self.read_marker_linearizer = Linearizer(name="read_marker")
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/receipts.py b/synapse/handlers/receipts.py
index fb495229a7e1..a49b8ee4b19c 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/receipts.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/receipts.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class ReceiptsHandler(BaseHandler):
     def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         super().__init__(hs)
 
-        self.server_name = hs.config.server_name
+        self.server_name = hs.config.server.server_name
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
         self.event_auth_handler = hs.get_event_auth_handler()
 
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/register.py b/synapse/handlers/register.py
index c374a1fbc297..38c4993da036 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/register.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/register.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
 
         self.spam_checker = hs.get_spam_checker()
 
-        if hs.config.worker_app:
+        if hs.config.worker.worker_app:
             self._register_client = ReplicationRegisterServlet.make_client(hs)
             self._register_device_client = RegisterDeviceReplicationServlet.make_client(
                 hs
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ async def register_with_store(
             address: the IP address used to perform the registration.
             shadow_banned: Whether to shadow-ban the user
         """
-        if self.hs.config.worker_app:
+        if self.hs.config.worker.worker_app:
             await self._register_client(
                 user_id=user_id,
                 password_hash=password_hash,
@@ -786,7 +786,7 @@ async def register_device_inner(
         Does the bits that need doing on the main process. Not for use outside this
         class and RegisterDeviceReplicationServlet.
         """
-        assert not self.hs.config.worker_app
+        assert not self.hs.config.worker.worker_app
         valid_until_ms = None
         if self.session_lifetime is not None:
             if is_guest:
@@ -843,7 +843,7 @@ async def post_registration_actions(
         """
         # TODO: 3pid registration can actually happen on the workers. Consider
         # refactoring it.
-        if self.hs.config.worker_app:
+        if self.hs.config.worker.worker_app:
             await self._post_registration_client(
                 user_id=user_id, auth_result=auth_result, access_token=access_token
             )
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/stats.py b/synapse/handlers/stats.py
index 47f2e2a0c1bd..b64ce8cab8c7 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/stats.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/stats.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         # Guard to ensure we only process deltas one at a time
         self._is_processing = False
 
-        if self.stats_enabled and hs.config.run_background_tasks:
+        if self.stats_enabled and hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks:
             self.notifier.add_replication_callback(self.notify_new_event)
 
             # We kick this off so that we don't have to wait for a change before
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/typing.py b/synapse/handlers/typing.py
index b84bd5e49ab6..9cea011e6286 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/typing.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/typing.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class FollowerTypingHandler:
 
     def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
-        self.server_name = hs.config.server_name
+        self.server_name = hs.config.server.server_name
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
         self.is_mine_id = hs.is_mine_id
 
diff --git a/synapse/logging/opentracing.py b/synapse/logging/opentracing.py
index d20f6e91065a..c6c4d3bd2961 100644
--- a/synapse/logging/opentracing.py
+++ b/synapse/logging/opentracing.py
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ def init_tracer(hs: "HomeServer"):
 
     config = JaegerConfig(
         config=hs.config.jaeger_config,
-        service_name=f"{hs.config.server_name} {hs.get_instance_name()}",
+        service_name=f"{hs.config.server.server_name} {hs.get_instance_name()}",
         scope_manager=LogContextScopeManager(hs.config),
         metrics_factory=PrometheusMetricsFactory(),
     )
diff --git a/synapse/module_api/__init__.py b/synapse/module_api/__init__.py
index b11fa6393bd4..2d403532fadb 100644
--- a/synapse/module_api/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/module_api/__init__.py
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ def public_room_list_manager(self):
     @property
     def public_baseurl(self) -> str:
         """The configured public base URL for this homeserver."""
-        return self._hs.config.public_baseurl
+        return self._hs.config.server.public_baseurl
 
     @property
     def email_app_name(self) -> str:
@@ -640,7 +640,7 @@ def looping_background_call(
         if desc is None:
             desc = f.__name__
 
-        if self._hs.config.run_background_tasks or run_on_all_instances:
+        if self._hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks or run_on_all_instances:
             self._clock.looping_call(
                 run_as_background_process,
                 msec,
diff --git a/synapse/push/mailer.py b/synapse/push/mailer.py
index b0834720ad9a..b89c6e6f2b4e 100644
--- a/synapse/push/mailer.py
+++ b/synapse/push/mailer.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ async def send_password_reset_mail(
         """
         params = {"token": token, "client_secret": client_secret, "sid": sid}
         link = (
-            self.hs.config.public_baseurl
+            self.hs.config.server.public_baseurl
             + "_synapse/client/password_reset/email/submit_token?%s"
             % urllib.parse.urlencode(params)
         )
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ async def send_password_reset_mail(
         await self.send_email(
             email_address,
             self.email_subjects.password_reset
-            % {"server_name": self.hs.config.server_name},
+            % {"server_name": self.hs.config.server.server_name},
             template_vars,
         )
 
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ async def send_registration_mail(
         """
         params = {"token": token, "client_secret": client_secret, "sid": sid}
         link = (
-            self.hs.config.public_baseurl
+            self.hs.config.server.public_baseurl
             + "_matrix/client/unstable/registration/email/submit_token?%s"
             % urllib.parse.urlencode(params)
         )
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ async def send_registration_mail(
         await self.send_email(
             email_address,
             self.email_subjects.email_validation
-            % {"server_name": self.hs.config.server_name},
+            % {"server_name": self.hs.config.server.server_name},
             template_vars,
         )
 
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ async def send_add_threepid_mail(
         """
         params = {"token": token, "client_secret": client_secret, "sid": sid}
         link = (
-            self.hs.config.public_baseurl
+            self.hs.config.server.public_baseurl
             + "_matrix/client/unstable/add_threepid/email/submit_token?%s"
             % urllib.parse.urlencode(params)
         )
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ async def send_add_threepid_mail(
         await self.send_email(
             email_address,
             self.email_subjects.email_validation
-            % {"server_name": self.hs.config.server_name},
+            % {"server_name": self.hs.config.server.server_name},
             template_vars,
         )
 
@@ -852,7 +852,7 @@ def _make_unsubscribe_link(
 
         # XXX: make r0 once API is stable
         return "%s_matrix/client/unstable/pushers/remove?%s" % (
-            self.hs.config.public_baseurl,
+            self.hs.config.server.public_baseurl,
             urllib.parse.urlencode(params),
         )
 
diff --git a/synapse/replication/tcp/client.py b/synapse/replication/tcp/client.py
index 3fd281171308..37769ace48c5 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/tcp/client.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/tcp/client.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def __init__(
     ):
         self.client_name = client_name
         self.command_handler = command_handler
-        self.server_name = hs.config.server_name
+        self.server_name = hs.config.server.server_name
         self.hs = hs
         self._clock = hs.get_clock()  # As self.clock is defined in super class
 
diff --git a/synapse/replication/tcp/handler.py b/synapse/replication/tcp/handler.py
index eae4515363f2..509ed7fb13ca 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/tcp/handler.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/tcp/handler.py
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
                 continue
 
             # Only add any other streams if we're on master.
-            if hs.config.worker_app is not None:
+            if hs.config.worker.worker_app is not None:
                 continue
 
             if stream.NAME == FederationStream.NAME and hs.config.send_federation:
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
             },
         )
 
-        self._is_master = hs.config.worker_app is None
+        self._is_master = hs.config.worker.worker_app is None
 
         self._federation_sender = None
         if self._is_master and not hs.config.send_federation:
diff --git a/synapse/replication/tcp/resource.py b/synapse/replication/tcp/resource.py
index bd47d8425814..030852cb5bc9 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/tcp/resource.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/tcp/resource.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class ReplicationStreamProtocolFactory(Factory):
     def __init__(self, hs):
         self.command_handler = hs.get_tcp_replication()
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
-        self.server_name = hs.config.server_name
+        self.server_name = hs.config.server.server_name
 
         # If we've created a `ReplicationStreamProtocolFactory` then we're
         # almost certainly registering a replication listener, so let's ensure
diff --git a/synapse/replication/tcp/streams/federation.py b/synapse/replication/tcp/streams/federation.py
index c445af9bd986..0600cdbf363d 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/tcp/streams/federation.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/tcp/streams/federation.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class FederationStream(Stream):
     ROW_TYPE = FederationStreamRow
 
     def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
-        if hs.config.worker_app is None:
+        if hs.config.worker.worker_app is None:
             # master process: get updates from the FederationRemoteSendQueue.
             # (if the master is configured to send federation itself, federation_sender
             # will be a real FederationSender, which has stubs for current_token and
diff --git a/synapse/rest/admin/__init__.py b/synapse/rest/admin/__init__.py
index b2514d9d0df4..a03774c98a3d 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/admin/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/admin/__init__.py
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ def register_servlets(hs: "HomeServer", http_server: HttpServer) -> None:
     RegistrationTokenRestServlet(hs).register(http_server)
 
     # Some servlets only get registered for the main process.
-    if hs.config.worker_app is None:
+    if hs.config.worker.worker_app is None:
         SendServerNoticeServlet(hs).register(http_server)
 
 
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/auth.py b/synapse/rest/client/auth.py
index df8cc4ac7ab5..7bb780147267 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/auth.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/auth.py
@@ -68,7 +68,10 @@ async def on_GET(self, request: SynapseRequest, stagetype: str) -> None:
             html = self.terms_template.render(
                 session=session,
                 terms_url="%s_matrix/consent?v=%s"
-                % (self.hs.config.public_baseurl, self.hs.config.user_consent_version),
+                % (
+                    self.hs.config.server.public_baseurl,
+                    self.hs.config.user_consent_version,
+                ),
                 myurl="%s/r0/auth/%s/fallback/web"
                 % (CLIENT_API_PREFIX, LoginType.TERMS),
             )
@@ -135,7 +138,7 @@ async def on_POST(self, request: Request, stagetype: str) -> None:
                     session=session,
                     terms_url="%s_matrix/consent?v=%s"
                     % (
-                        self.hs.config.public_baseurl,
+                        self.hs.config.server.public_baseurl,
                         self.hs.config.user_consent_version,
                     ),
                     myurl="%s/r0/auth/%s/fallback/web"
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/login.py b/synapse/rest/client/login.py
index bcba106bdd2c..a6ede7e2f3c1 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/login.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/login.py
@@ -93,14 +93,14 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self._address_ratelimiter = Ratelimiter(
             store=hs.get_datastore(),
             clock=hs.get_clock(),
-            rate_hz=self.hs.config.rc_login_address.per_second,
-            burst_count=self.hs.config.rc_login_address.burst_count,
+            rate_hz=self.hs.config.ratelimiting.rc_login_address.per_second,
+            burst_count=self.hs.config.ratelimiting.rc_login_address.burst_count,
         )
         self._account_ratelimiter = Ratelimiter(
             store=hs.get_datastore(),
             clock=hs.get_clock(),
-            rate_hz=self.hs.config.rc_login_account.per_second,
-            burst_count=self.hs.config.rc_login_account.burst_count,
+            rate_hz=self.hs.config.ratelimiting.rc_login_account.per_second,
+            burst_count=self.hs.config.ratelimiting.rc_login_account.burst_count,
         )
 
         # ensure the CAS/SAML/OIDC handlers are loaded on this worker instance.
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         # register themselves with the main SSOHandler.
         _load_sso_handlers(hs)
         self._sso_handler = hs.get_sso_handler()
-        self._public_baseurl = hs.config.public_baseurl
+        self._public_baseurl = hs.config.server.public_baseurl
 
     async def on_GET(
         self, request: SynapseRequest, idp_id: Optional[str] = None
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/openid.py b/synapse/rest/client/openid.py
index 4dda6dce4ba1..add56d699884 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/openid.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/openid.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self.auth = hs.get_auth()
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
-        self.server_name = hs.config.server_name
+        self.server_name = hs.config.server.server_name
 
     async def on_POST(
         self, request: SynapseRequest, user_id: str
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/push_rule.py b/synapse/rest/client/push_rule.py
index fb3211bf3a27..ecebc46e8d0c 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/push_rule.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/push_rule.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self.auth = hs.get_auth()
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
         self.notifier = hs.get_notifier()
-        self._is_worker = hs.config.worker_app is not None
+        self._is_worker = hs.config.worker.worker_app is not None
 
         self._users_new_default_push_rules = hs.config.users_new_default_push_rules
 
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/room.py b/synapse/rest/client/room.py
index 9b0c54650533..bf46dc60f262 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/room.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/room.py
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ async def on_GET(self, request: SynapseRequest) -> Tuple[int, JsonDict]:
             limit = None
 
         handler = self.hs.get_room_list_handler()
-        if server and server != self.hs.config.server_name:
+        if server and server != self.hs.config.server.server_name:
             # Ensure the server is valid.
             try:
                 parse_and_validate_server_name(server)
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ async def on_POST(self, request: SynapseRequest) -> Tuple[int, JsonDict]:
             limit = None
 
         handler = self.hs.get_room_list_handler()
-        if server and server != self.hs.config.server_name:
+        if server and server != self.hs.config.server.server_name:
             # Ensure the server is valid.
             try:
                 parse_and_validate_server_name(server)
diff --git a/synapse/rest/key/v2/local_key_resource.py b/synapse/rest/key/v2/local_key_resource.py
index a5fcd15e3af4..25f6eb842f0f 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/key/v2/local_key_resource.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/key/v2/local_key_resource.py
@@ -86,12 +86,12 @@ def response_json_object(self):
 
         json_object = {
             "valid_until_ts": self.valid_until_ts,
-            "server_name": self.config.server_name,
+            "server_name": self.config.server.server_name,
             "verify_keys": verify_keys,
             "old_verify_keys": old_verify_keys,
         }
         for key in self.config.signing_key:
-            json_object = sign_json(json_object, self.config.server_name, key)
+            json_object = sign_json(json_object, self.config.server.server_name, key)
         return json_object
 
     def render_GET(self, request):
diff --git a/synapse/rest/key/v2/remote_key_resource.py b/synapse/rest/key/v2/remote_key_resource.py
index 63a40b18528f..744360e5fd67 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/key/v2/remote_key_resource.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/key/v2/remote_key_resource.py
@@ -224,7 +224,9 @@ async def query_keys(self, request, query, query_remote_on_cache_miss=False):
             for key_json in json_results:
                 key_json = json_decoder.decode(key_json.decode("utf-8"))
                 for signing_key in self.config.key_server_signing_keys:
-                    key_json = sign_json(key_json, self.config.server_name, signing_key)
+                    key_json = sign_json(
+                        key_json, self.config.server.server_name, signing_key
+                    )
 
                 signed_keys.append(key_json)
 
diff --git a/synapse/rest/well_known.py b/synapse/rest/well_known.py
index 19ac3af33753..6a66a88c534c 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/well_known.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/well_known.py
@@ -34,10 +34,10 @@ def __init__(self, hs):
 
     def get_well_known(self):
         # if we don't have a public_baseurl, we can't help much here.
-        if self._config.public_baseurl is None:
+        if self._config.server.public_baseurl is None:
             return None
 
-        result = {"m.homeserver": {"base_url": self._config.public_baseurl}}
+        result = {"m.homeserver": {"base_url": self._config.server.public_baseurl}}
 
         if self._config.default_identity_server:
             result["m.identity_server"] = {
diff --git a/synapse/server.py b/synapse/server.py
index 5adeeff61a5f..4777ef585ddb 100644
--- a/synapse/server.py
+++ b/synapse/server.py
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ def setup(self) -> None:
         # Register background tasks required by this server. This must be done
         # somewhat manually due to the background tasks not being registered
         # unless handlers are instantiated.
-        if self.config.run_background_tasks:
+        if self.config.worker.run_background_tasks:
             self.setup_background_tasks()
 
     def start_listening(self) -> None:
@@ -370,8 +370,8 @@ def get_registration_ratelimiter(self) -> Ratelimiter:
         return Ratelimiter(
             store=self.get_datastore(),
             clock=self.get_clock(),
-            rate_hz=self.config.rc_registration.per_second,
-            burst_count=self.config.rc_registration.burst_count,
+            rate_hz=self.config.ratelimiting.rc_registration.per_second,
+            burst_count=self.config.ratelimiting.rc_registration.burst_count,
         )
 
     @cache_in_self
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ def get_macaroon_generator(self) -> MacaroonGenerator:
 
     @cache_in_self
     def get_device_handler(self):
-        if self.config.worker_app:
+        if self.config.worker.worker_app:
             return DeviceWorkerHandler(self)
         else:
             return DeviceHandler(self)
@@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ def get_federation_transport_client(self) -> TransportLayerClient:
     def get_federation_sender(self) -> AbstractFederationSender:
         if self.should_send_federation():
             return FederationSender(self)
-        elif not self.config.worker_app:
+        elif not self.config.worker.worker_app:
             return FederationRemoteSendQueue(self)
         else:
             raise Exception("Workers cannot send federation traffic")
@@ -650,14 +650,14 @@ def get_user_directory_handler(self) -> UserDirectoryHandler:
     def get_groups_local_handler(
         self,
     ) -> Union[GroupsLocalWorkerHandler, GroupsLocalHandler]:
-        if self.config.worker_app:
+        if self.config.worker.worker_app:
             return GroupsLocalWorkerHandler(self)
         else:
             return GroupsLocalHandler(self)
 
     @cache_in_self
     def get_groups_server_handler(self):
-        if self.config.worker_app:
+        if self.config.worker.worker_app:
             return GroupsServerWorkerHandler(self)
         else:
             return GroupsServerHandler(self)
@@ -684,7 +684,7 @@ def get_third_party_event_rules(self) -> ThirdPartyEventRules:
 
     @cache_in_self
     def get_room_member_handler(self) -> RoomMemberHandler:
-        if self.config.worker_app:
+        if self.config.worker.worker_app:
             return RoomMemberWorkerHandler(self)
         return RoomMemberMasterHandler(self)
 
@@ -694,13 +694,13 @@ def get_federation_registry(self) -> FederationHandlerRegistry:
 
     @cache_in_self
     def get_server_notices_manager(self) -> ServerNoticesManager:
-        if self.config.worker_app:
+        if self.config.worker.worker_app:
             raise Exception("Workers cannot send server notices")
         return ServerNoticesManager(self)
 
     @cache_in_self
     def get_server_notices_sender(self) -> WorkerServerNoticesSender:
-        if self.config.worker_app:
+        if self.config.worker.worker_app:
             return WorkerServerNoticesSender(self)
         return ServerNoticesSender(self)
 
@@ -766,7 +766,9 @@ def get_replication_streams(self) -> Dict[str, Stream]:
 
     @cache_in_self
     def get_federation_ratelimiter(self) -> FederationRateLimiter:
-        return FederationRateLimiter(self.get_clock(), config=self.config.rc_federation)
+        return FederationRateLimiter(
+            self.get_clock(), config=self.config.ratelimiting.rc_federation
+        )
 
     @cache_in_self
     def get_module_api(self) -> ModuleApi:
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/__init__.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/__init__.py
index 00a644e8f71c..1dc347f0c927 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/__init__.py
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ async def get_users_paginate(
 
         def get_users_paginate_txn(txn):
             filters = []
-            args = [self.hs.config.server_name]
+            args = [self.hs.config.server.server_name]
 
             # Set ordering
             order_by_column = UserSortOrder(order_by).value
@@ -356,13 +356,13 @@ def check_database_before_upgrade(cur, database_engine, config: HomeServerConfig
         return
 
     user_domain = get_domain_from_id(rows[0][0])
-    if user_domain == config.server_name:
+    if user_domain == config.server.server_name:
         return
 
     raise Exception(
         "Found users in database not native to %s!\n"
         "You cannot change a synapse server_name after it's been configured"
-        % (config.server_name,)
+        % (config.server.server_name,)
     )
 
 
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/censor_events.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/censor_events.py
index f22c1f241b65..6305414e3d55 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/censor_events.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/censor_events.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def __init__(self, database: DatabasePool, db_conn, hs: "HomeServer"):
         super().__init__(database, db_conn, hs)
 
         if (
-            hs.config.run_background_tasks
+            hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks
             and self.hs.config.redaction_retention_period is not None
         ):
             hs.get_clock().looping_call(self._censor_redactions, 5 * 60 * 1000)
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/client_ips.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/client_ips.py
index 074b077bef91..7a98275d927f 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/client_ips.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/client_ips.py
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ def __init__(self, database: DatabasePool, db_conn, hs):
 
         self.user_ips_max_age = hs.config.user_ips_max_age
 
-        if hs.config.run_background_tasks and self.user_ips_max_age:
+        if hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks and self.user_ips_max_age:
             self._clock.looping_call(self._prune_old_user_ips, 5 * 1000)
 
     @wrap_as_background_process("prune_old_user_ips")
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/devices.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/devices.py
index 3816a0ca5382..64645203865c 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/devices.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/devices.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class DeviceWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
     def __init__(self, database: DatabasePool, db_conn, hs):
         super().__init__(database, db_conn, hs)
 
-        if hs.config.run_background_tasks:
+        if hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks:
             self._clock.looping_call(
                 self._prune_old_outbound_device_pokes, 60 * 60 * 1000
             )
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/event_federation.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/event_federation.py
index bddf5ef19279..047782eb069a 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/event_federation.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/event_federation.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class EventFederationWorkerStore(EventsWorkerStore, SignatureWorkerStore, SQLBas
     def __init__(self, database: DatabasePool, db_conn, hs):
         super().__init__(database, db_conn, hs)
 
-        if hs.config.run_background_tasks:
+        if hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks:
             hs.get_clock().looping_call(
                 self._delete_old_forward_extrem_cache, 60 * 60 * 1000
             )
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/event_push_actions.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/event_push_actions.py
index 55caa6bbe78c..97b3e92d3f13 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/event_push_actions.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/event_push_actions.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def __init__(self, database: DatabasePool, db_conn, hs):
         self._rotate_delay = 3
         self._rotate_count = 10000
         self._doing_notif_rotation = False
-        if hs.config.run_background_tasks:
+        if hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks:
             self._rotate_notif_loop = self._clock.looping_call(
                 self._rotate_notifs, 30 * 60 * 1000
             )
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/events_worker.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/events_worker.py
index 9501f00f3bb3..d72e716b5c21 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/events_worker.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/events_worker.py
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ def __init__(self, database: DatabasePool, db_conn, hs):
                     db_conn, "events", "stream_ordering", step=-1
                 )
 
-        if hs.config.run_background_tasks:
+        if hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks:
             # We periodically clean out old transaction ID mappings
             self._clock.looping_call(
                 self._cleanup_old_transaction_ids,
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/metrics.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/metrics.py
index dc0bbc56ac8b..dac3d14da8e1 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/metrics.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/metrics.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def __init__(self, database: DatabasePool, db_conn, hs):
         super().__init__(database, db_conn, hs)
 
         # Read the extrems every 60 minutes
-        if hs.config.run_background_tasks:
+        if hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks:
             self._clock.looping_call(self._read_forward_extremities, 60 * 60 * 1000)
 
         # Used in _generate_user_daily_visits to keep track of progress
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/registration.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/registration.py
index 5109ac174af8..fafadb88fcfe 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/registration.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/registration.py
@@ -132,14 +132,14 @@ def __init__(
                 hs.config.account_validity.account_validity_startup_job_max_delta
             )
 
-            if hs.config.run_background_tasks:
+            if hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks:
                 self._clock.call_later(
                     0.0,
                     self._set_expiration_date_when_missing,
                 )
 
         # Create a background job for culling expired 3PID validity tokens
-        if hs.config.run_background_tasks:
+        if hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks:
             self._clock.looping_call(
                 self.cull_expired_threepid_validation_tokens, THIRTY_MINUTES_IN_MS
             )
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/room.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/room.py
index 6e7312266d0b..118b390e9346 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/room.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/room.py
@@ -815,7 +815,7 @@ async def quarantine_media_by_id(
                 If it is `None` media will be removed from quarantine
         """
         logger.info("Quarantining media: %s/%s", server_name, media_id)
-        is_local = server_name == self.config.server_name
+        is_local = server_name == self.config.server.server_name
 
         def _quarantine_media_by_id_txn(txn):
             local_mxcs = [media_id] if is_local else []
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/roommember.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/roommember.py
index 64c18c6f86d4..9beeb96aa98d 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/roommember.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/roommember.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ def __init__(self, database: DatabasePool, db_conn, hs):
         txn.close()
 
         if (
-            self.hs.config.run_background_tasks
+            self.hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks
             and self.hs.config.metrics_flags.known_servers
         ):
             self._known_servers_count = 1
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/session.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/session.py
index 172f27d109ad..5a97120437d0 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/session.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/session.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def __init__(
         super().__init__(database, db_conn, hs)
 
         # Create a background job for culling expired sessions.
-        if hs.config.run_background_tasks:
+        if hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks:
             self._clock.looping_call(self._delete_expired_sessions, 30 * 60 * 1000)
 
     async def create_session(
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/stats.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/stats.py
index 4245fa1a3c19..343d6efc9272 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/stats.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/stats.py
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@ async def get_users_media_usage_paginate(
 
         def get_users_media_usage_paginate_txn(txn):
             filters = []
-            args = [self.hs.config.server_name]
+            args = [self.hs.config.server.server_name]
 
             if search_term:
                 filters.append("(lmr.user_id LIKE ? OR displayname LIKE ?)")
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/transactions.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/transactions.py
index 7728d5f1023c..860146cd1bc9 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/transactions.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/transactions.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ class TransactionWorkerStore(CacheInvalidationWorkerStore):
     def __init__(self, database: DatabasePool, db_conn, hs):
         super().__init__(database, db_conn, hs)
 
-        if hs.config.run_background_tasks:
+        if hs.config.worker.run_background_tasks:
             self._clock.looping_call(self._cleanup_transactions, 30 * 60 * 1000)
 
     @wrap_as_background_process("cleanup_transactions")
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/user_directory.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/user_directory.py
index 16d9824ec183..8aebdc281709 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/user_directory.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/user_directory.py
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ def __init__(self, database: DatabasePool, db_conn, hs):
         self._prefer_local_users_in_search = (
             hs.config.user_directory_search_prefer_local_users
         )
-        self._server_name = hs.config.server_name
+        self._server_name = hs.config.server.server_name
 
     async def remove_from_user_dir(self, user_id: str) -> None:
         def _remove_from_user_dir_txn(txn):
diff --git a/synapse/storage/prepare_database.py b/synapse/storage/prepare_database.py
index 61392b9639c3..d4754c904c93 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/prepare_database.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/prepare_database.py
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ def prepare_database(
             # if it's a worker app, refuse to upgrade the database, to avoid multiple
             # workers doing it at once.
             if (
-                config.worker_app is not None
+                config.worker.worker_app is not None
                 and version_info.current_version != SCHEMA_VERSION
             ):
                 raise UpgradeDatabaseException(
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ def prepare_database(
 
             # if it's a worker app, refuse to upgrade the database, to avoid multiple
             # workers doing it at once.
-            if config and config.worker_app is not None:
+            if config and config.worker.worker_app is not None:
                 raise UpgradeDatabaseException(EMPTY_DATABASE_ON_WORKER_ERROR)
 
             _setup_new_database(cur, database_engine, databases=databases)
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ def _upgrade_existing_database(
     else:
         assert config
 
-    is_worker = config and config.worker_app is not None
+    is_worker = config and config.worker.worker_app is not None
 
     if (
         current_schema_state.compat_version is not None
diff --git a/synapse/storage/schema/main/delta/30/as_users.py b/synapse/storage/schema/main/delta/30/as_users.py
index 7f08fabe9f23..8a1f340083bf 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/schema/main/delta/30/as_users.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/schema/main/delta/30/as_users.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def run_upgrade(cur, database_engine, config, *args, **kwargs):
         logger.warning("Could not get app_service_config_files from config")
         pass
 
-    appservices = load_appservices(config.server_name, config_files)
+    appservices = load_appservices(config.server.server_name, config_files)
 
     owned = {}
 
diff --git a/synapse/storage/schema/main/delta/57/local_current_membership.py b/synapse/storage/schema/main/delta/57/local_current_membership.py
index 66989222e6d2..d25093c19fde 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/schema/main/delta/57/local_current_membership.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/schema/main/delta/57/local_current_membership.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def run_upgrade(cur, database_engine, config, *args, **kwargs):
                 INNER JOIN room_memberships AS r USING (event_id)
                 WHERE type = 'm.room.member' AND state_key LIKE ?
         """
-    cur.execute(sql, ("%:" + config.server_name,))
+    cur.execute(sql, ("%:" + config.server.server_name,))
 
     cur.execute(
         "CREATE UNIQUE INDEX local_current_membership_idx ON local_current_membership(user_id, room_id)"
diff --git a/synapse/util/templates.py b/synapse/util/templates.py
index eb3c8c93705e..12941065ca60 100644
--- a/synapse/util/templates.py
+++ b/synapse/util/templates.py
@@ -63,12 +63,12 @@ def build_jinja_env(
     env.filters.update(
         {
             "format_ts": _format_ts_filter,
-            "mxc_to_http": _create_mxc_to_http_filter(config.public_baseurl),
+            "mxc_to_http": _create_mxc_to_http_filter(config.server.public_baseurl),
         }
     )
 
     # common variables for all templates
-    env.globals.update({"server_name": config.server_name})
+    env.globals.update({"server_name": config.server.server_name})
 
     return env
 
diff --git a/tests/rest/test_well_known.py b/tests/rest/test_well_known.py
index ac0e42775239..b2c0279ba093 100644
--- a/tests/rest/test_well_known.py
+++ b/tests/rest/test_well_known.py
@@ -23,10 +23,13 @@ def create_test_resource(self):
         # replace the JsonResource with a WellKnownResource
         return WellKnownResource(self.hs)
 
+    @unittest.override_config(
+        {
+            "public_baseurl": "https://tesths",
+            "default_identity_server": "https://testis",
+        }
+    )
     def test_well_known(self):
-        self.hs.config.public_baseurl = "https://tesths"
-        self.hs.config.default_identity_server = "https://testis"
-
         channel = self.make_request(
             "GET", "/.well-known/matrix/client", shorthand=False
         )
@@ -35,14 +38,17 @@ def test_well_known(self):
         self.assertEqual(
             channel.json_body,
             {
-                "m.homeserver": {"base_url": "https://tesths"},
+                "m.homeserver": {"base_url": "https://tesths/"},
                 "m.identity_server": {"base_url": "https://testis"},
             },
         )
 
+    @unittest.override_config(
+        {
+            "public_baseurl": None,
+        }
+    )
     def test_well_known_no_public_baseurl(self):
-        self.hs.config.public_baseurl = None
-
         channel = self.make_request(
             "GET", "/.well-known/matrix/client", shorthand=False
         )